This article addresses the situation where you wish to change podcast host to Acast, but couldn't complete the podcast import process.
After confirming your import failed, you can try finding the cause and remedy it using this guide. A complete import is necessary before setting the redirect at your previous host and finally move your podcast to Acast.
For the next steps, we would recommend opening your current RSS feed in your browser, this will allow checking a few things. Please note that Safari browsers don't allow opening RSS feeds.
These are the most common reasons for failed imports:
The podcast feed doesn't hold any episodes
The episodes don't have any audio (or audio isn't compliant: mp3 files are preferred)
The podcast is missing artwork, summary, or title
Some episodes aren't importing because your previous host added a limiter, see here how to remove it
Your episodes audio URL have tracking prefixes that blocks importing
Troubleshooting your RSS feed before import
If you are able to pinpoint the reason for the failed import, you may try importing again. Be sure to go into your show's failed import in your dashboard, and delete the failed attempt through the Settings tab (confirm deletion in 'Danger Zone').
Check that your feed is valid
Using a feed validation service (such W3C.org RSS feed validator or CastFeedValidator), you can confirm that your RSS feed is valid and ready to import. Any number of causes can be notified to you if your feed isn't valid. These observations can be brought up to your current host to be handled before trying another import.
Check that your feed contains audio files for all episodes
Opening your RSS feed, you should confirm that it holds your episode's audio files. If you look for "enclosure" elements in your RSS, you should see one audio file for each episode. If no "enclosure" elements are present at all, or not for a specific episode, the import will not be completed. An audio format being different for a specific episode might prevent this episode's import. We recommend using mp3 files as standard.
Check that your feed do not contain prefixes
Services such as Feedburner, Chartable or Podsights may add prefixes to your audio URLs in your feed. Acast doesn't support these prefixes and cannot import shows that have prefixes enabled. If you use one of these services, be sure to disable prefixes before importing, or confirm that prefixes aren't affecting your feed. Opening your RSS feed, all "enclosures" element should give a media file with no "pdst.fm", "feedburner", 'chtbl", or any other address before your audio file URL.
Other reasons for failed imports
If a podcast is already imported at Acast or trying to import, it will not be possible to import it again. You can delete your failed import from the show's settings page.
If mandatory elements are missing from your podcast feed, such as episode titles, podcast summary, podcast title, it will not be possible to import it. Be sure to check these are populated if the importer tool doesn't notify it.
If your podcast feed doesn't contain GUIDs for each episode, it won't be possible to import it. We recommend checking with your previous host if these can be added.
If your episode audio files are too big (more than 1GB for a single episode for example), the import might fail.